My One & Only Political Post

Its the day after...

and

in the words of a friend....

"Whether or not your sociopath won or lost, be kind to your neighbors today, buy from local businesses, tip well, manage your health, and don't be a jackass. You know.... things that will actually change the world." JE

Stay calm, and move on.  Cheers.

Happy Birthday Julia

"Life itself is the proper binge."

Julia Child would have been 100 years old today.

As far back as I can remember,

in the deepest depths of my memory,

I remember watching Julia's cooking show,

with my Mama.

How can we ever forget that distinctive voice,

her charm, her wit, her humor.

No, they don't make 'em like Julia anymore.

As a very young bride, it was Julia,

who taught me a love for cooking,

the proper way to roast a bird,

and dared me to attempt Creme Brulee.

I would hear her voice in my head,

and I learned my way around my new kitchen,

teaching me how to use various utensils and kitchen tools.

I wonder just how many cooks are out there today

that were influenced by her. 

Those such as myself.

that grew up watching, listening, absorbing

Julia's teachings.

Surely there must be thousands.

Happy Birthday Julia. 

There will never be another like you.

How Did This Happen So Fast

He went from this....

To this.....

He agreed to pose for me this morning...by the fireplace

Not with his bookbag,

but with his dog instead.

Today my baby becomes a senior in high school.

I've had three seniors before him.

But he's always been the baby.

How did it happen so fast?

That he grew up, right in front me, and I'm not sure I saw it coming.

He went from being a wild and crazy "Dennis the Menace" type of boy,

full of mischief, adventure, curiosity...oh the never ending curiosity, which

often left a path of destruction in his wake;

To being funny, sweet, sensitive, gentle, shy,

and oh so smart.

He went from taking apart vacumn cleaners and lawn mowers,

to writing music, recording songs, and painting pictures.

He has so much waiting for him...so much ahead of him.

This child...my child from another planet. 

I cannot wait to see what he does with this amazing, incredible life.

But, I think, whatever he does, nothing will surprise me.

This child from another planet.

Peaches & Blueberries

July in Georgia brings peaches, and blueberries.

Two of my favorite fruits, and

two of my favorite fruits to eat together. 

Peaches and Blueberries go together in the most delightful way.

Our little town holds a local Farmer's Market, during the season,

on our little town square every Friday.

This past Friday I loaded up on peaches and blueberries.

I wandered among the tables and booths,

set up with all sorts of garden delights.

It was hard to pass up the jars of honey,

baskets of tomatoes, and fresh corn.

But, I went that day with peaches on my mind.

Then the blueberries woo'd me and I couldn't resist.

This past Sunday, my family gathered for one of our favorite

summertime suppers....

Low Country Boil

Fried Green Tomatoes

Hushpuppies

and I made a Peach with Blueberries Crisp.

Its a crazy simple recipe,

one long inheirited from my Mama.

I'm bettin' every southern girl has this recipe, or a variation of it.

PEACH CRISP

(I just added a couple of handfuls of blueberries, for good measure.)

For a 9x11 baking dish:

1 1/2 cups self rising flour

1 1/2 cups sugar

1 1/2 sticks softened, room temp butter or margarine

Enough peaches to generously cover the bottom of the dish.

1 1/2 cups water

Sprinkle of cinnamon

Spray baking or casserole dish with non stick spray.

Peel and cut up (I like nice size chunks) enough peaches to almost, but  not completely fill up the dish.  I used about 10-12 peaches, depending on the size.  Sprinkle the fruit with cinnamon.  I give it a light covering.  Pour the water over the fruit, enough water (about 1 1/2 cups) to cover the bottom half of the fruit.

Mix flour, sugar, and butter together to form a crumbly topping.  You can use a pastry cutter but I use my hands.  The mixture should be a separated, pea like crumble.  Crumble the mixture over the fruit to cover completely.

Bake at 350 for about an hour, until top is golden brown. 

Its best eaten warm, with vanilla ice cream.  Yum....

For a smaller dish, you can cut back the amount of fruit, cut the dry ingredients back to one cup and one stick of butter, and one cup of water. 

This recipe is especially yummy in the Fall, with apples.  For an apple crisp I add more cinnamon for that apple cinnamon-y goodness.

Ahhhh, June...

June is my favorite month of the year.  Yes, I am the quintessential summertime girl.

Why I love June...

Long lazy days on the dock, swimming and boating.

Lightening Bugs

Blueberries

Hydrangeas

Magnolias

Jasmine on the lattice, and in the air.

Black Banks Creek, and crabbing.

Wearing the scent of sunscreen, and salt water.

Margaritas.

Skirts, shorts, and sandals.

Spanish moss and Resurrection ferns.

I love June, yes I do.

I'm at my best in June.

"If a June night could talk, it would probably boast it invented romance."

~ Bern Williams

Today is....

National Mint Julep Day!

from Google images

Believe it or not, this so southern girl has never had a mint julep.  I know, a sacrilege, right? 

But, for some reason, a few months back, and I do think I'll blame this on pinterest, I've been longing for a set of mint julep cups.  All the pretty pins I've seen on flower arrangements in mint julep cups have me seriously shopping.  I found these about a month ago, and have been playing the "Should I or Shouldn't I?" game....

                from Ross-Simons.com

                                             

I have a feeling that eventually I will...............

Also, coincidently, Damon Lee Fowler, one of my all time biggest Author crushes, posted a very tempting mint julep recipe on his blog a few weeks ago.  

I love Mr. Fowler...love him.  His Savannah Cookbook is one of my favorites.  Plus, his keen interest in historical southern cooking touches my very soul.  Being a lover of southern history, and cooking, his writings on the relationship of both just puts me over the moon.  But I digress....

Mr. Fowler posts his favorite mint julep recipe here, along with some very cool historical background of the South's signature cocktail, dating back to even Biblical times.  Makes me want to try a mint julep today...and well, it being National Mint Julep Day and all..... http://www.damonleefowler.com/blog.htm?post=853665

Other Things

I've had a hard time keeping up with blogging.  It seems like for a few years, I really enjoyed blogging, and blogged regularly.  Nowadays I do well if I blog once a month.  I still keep blog post ideas in my head, and I'll think, "I need to blog about that!"  And, my camera still hangs at my side, sometimes with pictures that I want to share.  But sitting down to actually "do it" often evades me.  Maybe its because I'm back at work full time.  Maybe its because the last 5 months or so have been a whirlwind of activity with wedding planning, college graduation, end of school, and the illness and loss of our sweet old girl, Sophie. 

Our girl Annalee was married to her sweet Jeff last week....two weeks after her graduation from college.

We lost Sophie in April.  She was my best good friend, and a faithful and loving companion.  I've had dogs, and pets of almost every variety through out my life.  Sophie was an exceptional pet, a member of our family.  I miss her terribly.

I'm heading to my island in a few weeks.  Home.

I miss my blogging friends.  And, I'm sure they've all given up on me.  But I do still get by your blogs on a regular basis, to read, and sometimes comment.  Hopefully I can spend more time here on my blog and hanging out with my blogging friends again.